Orthopedic instrument



C., OWENS Feb. 1, 1938.

QRTHOPEDIC l NSTRUMENT Original Filed Sept. 16, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1938 STATS QFFICE Application September 16, 1932, Serial No. 633,511 Renewed February 26, 1935 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an orthopedic instrument for operating upon the foot, and the object thereof is to provide such an instrument which is particularly simple in construction and highly efficacious in use, and which includes a vibratory member, .or applicator, having a rounded surface for contact with the bottom of the foot in such manner that substantial marginal portions of the bottom of the foot will overlie the applicator and .may be manipulated by the hands of the operator,

ing-upon the floor for maintaining the parts in,

operative position with the foot superimposed upon the applicator, such support having two base members disposed at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to each other, either of which may be brought into use as desired, whereby direction of movement of the applicator in relation to the foot being treated may be varied.

One embodiment of the invention is pictured in the accompanying drawing.

In this embodiment, a main supporting member is designated I, and it comprises two base members practically integral with and disposed at an angle of ninety degrees to each other, and each provided with a plurality of feet 2, made of rubber, or other suitable material. The motor for reciprocating the applicator is designated 3, and the switch for controlling the same is designated 8. The vibrating member, or applicator, to operate upon the foot, is designated 6, and is preferably of spherical form and of considerably less diameter than the width of the foot. It is mounted upon the outer end of a vibrator arm 5, the opposite end of which cooperates with a pin rotated by and eccentrically disposed in reference to the motor shaft. The arm 5 fulcrums upon a pin 1 carried by and adjustable lengthwise of a fixed supporting arm 4.

The parts 3, 4, 5, 6, and l are shown and described in detail in my U. S. Patent No. 752,252, issued February 16, 1904.

Any suitable means for vibrating the applicator and for varying the stroke thereof may be employed, instead of the particular mechanism described, which forms no part of the present invention.

When the support occupies the position shown in the drawing, the applicator has a stroke in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom of the foot, which is superimposed upon the up ermost surface of the applicator, but by the simple expedient of tipping the support so that its other base member is brought into use, a different action upon the foot is obtained, or the applicator caused to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion of the foot being treated.

In the practical application of the invention, the patient is seated on a. chair, or the like, with his feet free. The operator sits on a stool and faces the patient. The instrument is placed atrifle in advance of the patient, with the desired base member resting upon the floor. The operator, by resting his foot on said base member, can steady the instrument. After the motor is started, the operator grasps the patients foot between his hands and advances the foot until the bottom thereof is directly over and resting upon the uppermost surface of the applicator. With the ball of each thumb base (palm of the hand near each thumb) resting on the upper sides of the foot, the operator is then able to naturally and easily manipulate the bottom of the foot adjacent the applicator, or its path of movement, and the motion and resistance of the applicator, in conjunction with such manipulation, have the desired orthopedic effect.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An instrument of the class described comprising a support consisting of two board like members arranged at right angles to each other and connected together at their adjacent portions, a motor supported on one of said members, an arm oscillated by connections driven by the motor, said arm extending substantially radially in relation to the motor axis, and substantially at right angles to the board like member on which the motor is supported and substantially parallel with the other board like member, and an applicator carried by said oscillatory arm, said applicator having a spherical bearing surface for contacting the arch of the superposed foot, said support being adapted to be tipped through an angle of to rest on either board like member, the said applicator in all positions having a free space about it allowing access of the operators hands to the side portions of the foot while the latter is resting upon the vibrating applicator, substantially as described.

2. An instrument for the treatment of the feet comprising a one point bearing applicator having a a free space thereabove to permit the superimposition of a foot on the applicator, means for vibrating said applicator, and a support for said parts, beneath the applicator to rest on a floor or other surface, said applicator being of limited area to bear upon the central portions of the bottom of the foot leaving the side portions thereof 55 free to be manipulated by the hands of the operator while the said applicator is vibrating, said support comprising two angularly disposed bases to permit shifting of the instrument from one position to another on said bases to effect different applicator strokes.

3. An instrument for the treatment of the feet comprising a one point bearing applicator having a free space thereabove to permit the superimposition of a foot on the applicator, means for vibrating said applicator, and a support for said parts beneath the applicator to rest on a floor or other surface, said applicator being of limited area to bear upon the central portions of the bottom of the foot leaving the side portions thereof free to be manipulated by, the hands of the operator while the said applicator is vibrating, said support being free to be tipped through an angle of 90 and being provided with bearing surfaces for limiting the tipping movement, the said applicator being shifted in said tipping movement to vary its vibrating stroke in relation to the under side of the arch of the foot.

4. An instrument for the treatment of the feet comprising a one point bearing applicator having a free space thereabove to permit the superimposition of a foot on the applicator, means for vibrating said applicator, and a support for said parts beneath the applicator to rest on a floor or other surface, said applicator being of limited area to bear upon the central portions of the bottom of the foot leaving the side portions thereof free to be manipulated by the hands of the operator while the said applicator is vibrating, said one point applicator oscillating laterally when the support is in one position, said support being free to be tipped through an angle of 90 to thereby change the direction of the oscillations of the vibrator from lateral to vertical, and said support having means to limit the angular adjustment thereof and to provide the supporting surfaces for each adjustment.

5. An instrument for the treatment of the feet comprising an applicator, power means for actuating said applicator, and a support for said parts beneath the applicator to rest on a floor or other surface, said support comprising two angularly disposed bases at substantially equal distances from the applicator, said instrument being shiftable to be supported by either of the bases to secure different applicator actions upon the feet, substantially as described.

6. An orthopedic foot manipulator comprising a base to rest on the floor or the like, a support projecting upwardly from said base, a vibrator arm carried by the upper part of said support and having a portion extending vertically from the support, a member at the upper end of said arm forming the uppermost portion of the manipulator facing upwardly and upon which a foot may rest in superposed relation and having a substantially spherical surface for contact with the bottom of the foot, said foot rest member being of substantially less diameter than the width of the patients foot to leave substantial margins of the foot overhanging, and driving means for vibrating the vibrator arm, the elevated position of said rest member as the uppermost part of the manipulator by being disposed above said arm, support and base thereby providing an extensive free space laterally of the rest member and around its under side to receive the hands and fingers of the operator, pressing a foot upon the rest member.

CHARLES OWENS. 

